PALMDALE – Optimist Foster Family and Adoption Agency will be hosting the first of six local certification classes for potential foster and adoptive parents.
The first class will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Jan.13, at the agency’s Palmdale office, located at 520 W. Palmdale Blvd., Suite I.
Los Angeles County needs many more foster homes for children of all ages, according to Crystal L. Brackin, Assistant Executive Director of Optimist Youth Homes and Family Services.
“Unfortunately, the Antelope Valley area is typically even more underserved in many resource areas, this being one of them,” Brackin stated. “It’s best to keep the children within the communities they are familiar in order to keep them close to family and/or within their home school districts. As a result we need more homes in this area.”
Optimist is available to help local potential foster/adoptive parents through the certification process and provide support throughout the placement process. Optimist offers free training, support and compensation.
You can be a foster parent if you:
- Are at least 21 years old
- Are single, married or same sex partners
- Have enough room in your home for children
- Have no criminal record
- Have a driver’s license and an insured vehicle
- Have a stable income
Call (661) 272-4733 for more information or to sign up for Tuesday’s class.
“Come to the class and let us answer your questions and show you how you can make a tremendous difference in the life of a child and your community,” Brackin stated.
Optimist Youth Homes and Family Services is a fully licensed foster care and adoption agency, with a main facility in Palmdale and offices in Highland Park. Social workers screen and train foster parents to match them with needy children. They also provide full adoption services when foster parents decide to become a forever family for the children in their care.
For more information, visit https://www.oyhfs.org.
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callitasitis says
My hat is off to those you work this field of foster care. It means that you are getting children whose parents have failed to care for their children and nurture their children because of ISSUES (drugs/ criminal behavior, abandonment). There are the few who are orphaned but most just had the bad luck of having self-center parent(s). It takes ALOT of work and extreme PATIENCE it is not for the weak minded or will. It is one of the reasons there is a shortage of foster care parents. This is not a BUSINESS and anyone who treats it like a business does a disservice to the children.
Flor Angel says
i would love to help this children but I have so many questions
This is my number 6613172502
Yes I will be there if I don’t work that night
Please call me so I can speak to some one!
God bless you all have a great night!
wrong place says
Good luck finding people with no criminal record in the av!!!